Brewers love a rainy night, win 7-5 over Rockies

Game stopped in ninth inning for 1 hour, 45 minute rain delay

The Colorado Rockies were unable to overcome a poor start Saturday night by Collin McHugh, who was hit hard at the outset of his debut with the team and bid to fill the void at the end of their rotation.

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The Milwaukee Brewers scored six runs off McHugh in three innings and held on to beat the Rockies 7-5. It was just the second win in six games for the Brewers since the suspension of Ryan Braun.

McHugh started in place of injured Drew Pomeranz but fared no better than Pomeranz or injured Roy Oswalt. They have most recently occupied the fifth spot in the Rockies' rotation and are a combined 0-8 with a 7.86 ERA in eight starts.

The Rockies are searching for someone to become part of what recently has been a very strong rotation. Indeed, the Rockies starters had a combined 2.08 ERA in 15 games since July 8, and McHugh became the first in that span to allow more than three runs.

From the bottom of the fifth inning on, the game was played in a steady rain that was heavy at times and finally caused the game to be halted after the Brewers batted in the ninth. After a delay of 1 hour, 45 minutes, closer Jim Henderson took the mound. He struck out two of the three batters he faced and earned his 12th save.

After being held scoreless for five innings on three hits by Tom Gorzelanny, the Rockies broke with four runs in the sixth. With one out, DJ LeMahieu doubled and scored when Troy Tulowitzki lined a single to center. Gorzelanny walked Michael Cuddyer, and Wilin Rosario hit a three-run homer. The home run was Rosario's 14th of the season and first in 59 at-bats since June 28.

That hit finished Gorzelanny and left him with a 7.58 ERA in four starts at Coors Field and a 7.11 ERA in seven games there overall.

Jonathan Lucroy put the Brewers ahead 7-4 when he homered off Adam Ottavino with two out in the seventh. It was Lucroy's 17th homer and the first allowed by Ottavino in 33 2/3 innings since May 9.

Tulowitzki cut Milwaukee's lead to 7-5 when he hit his 18th home run leading off the eighth against John Axford, who had just entered the game and had not been scored upon in 31 of his past 32 appearances.

McHugh was hit hard early, giving up six runs in three innings on eight hits, four for extra bases. The barrage began when Rickie Weeks led off what became a three-run first with a double. He was sacrificed to third and scored on Jean Segura's single.

Lucroy doubled -- his line drive hitting McHugh above his right ankle and ricocheting into right field -- and Carlos Gomez hit a sacrifice fly. Caleb Gindl followed with a double to make it 3-0.

With two out in the second, Norichika Aoki bunted for a hit. He stole second and scored on Segura's single. Gomez led off the third with a single and with one out, Juan Francisco drove his 13th home run into the right-field stands to make it 6-0. The Brewers had 10 plate appearances through three innings with runners in scoring position before McHugh finally retired the side in order in the fourth.

Gorzelanny was trying to overcome his poor history against the Rockies. He was 1-2 with an 8.64 ERA against them in 10 games, four starts. And he was 1-1 with a 7.90 ERA in three starts at Coors Field, the last in 2010.

Gorzelanny held the Rockies scoreless on three singles through five innings.

NOTES: Rockies RHP Mitchell Boggs was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room on the roster for McHugh. In two appearances with the Rockies, Boggs pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. McHugh is the ninth starter the Rockies have used this season. ... Carlos Gonzalez was not in the Rockies lineup for a second straight day due to a sprained right middle finger that he aggravated taking a swing Thursday. ... Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt (appendicitis) said he was "still a little sore" but exercised in a pool for the first time since his appendectomy July 19. ... Rockies RHP Roy Oswalt (left hamstring strain) said he felt fine after throwing 15 pitches off the mound on Friday at about 80 percent power. He is scheduled for a bullpen session Tuesday at Atlanta. Oswalt has been on the disabled list since July 8. ... Brewers RHP Marco Estrada (left hamstring) faced hitters in batting practice Friday and is scheduled to throw two innings Monday with the Brewers team in the Arizona Rookie League, the first of three scheduled starts. ... Brewers RHP Tyler Thornberg, who has been pitching out of the bullpen, is expected to start one game of a doubleheader Tuesday at the Chicago Cubs if manager Ron Roenicke can avoid using him in the next three days.

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